7 Myths about Roller Derby

It’s fake, like pro wrestling

While many of today’s skaters use noms de guerre, and the sport has its roots in theatrical mid-20th-century banked-track events, modern flat-track roller derby is fully sanctioned, independently officiated and governed by a detailed rulebook maintained by the WFTDA. There are no predetermined outcomes. The hits are real. The scores are real. These athletes train multiple times a week, year-round and compete for national rankings.

 

They’re constantly throwing elbows

Actually, elbows are illegal. So are forearm strikes, tripping and contact above the shoulders. The sport uses an elaborate penalty system: illegal hits earn 30 seconds in the penalty box and flagrant fouls can mean an ejection. The contact in roller derby is real and physical, but it’s controlled and there are rules.

 

You have to have a certain body type to play

One of roller derby’s defining characteristics is that it genuinely welcomes athletes of all sizes and builds. Skates are a great equalizer. Big blockers use their mass to anchor the pack and slow down a jammer. Small, fast jammers use agility to slip through. As a relatively hefty jammer, I liked to use my mass to power through seams in blockers’ walls. I even had a teammate, Merby Dick, who played into his late 70s. The sport rewards a wide range of physical attributes and leagues actively recruit people who might never have considered themselves athletes.

 

Only women can play roller derby

All genders can play roller derby. The Men’s Roller Derby Association primarily features men but also includes skaters of all genders. The WFTDA also has an inclusive gender policy that welcomes skaters from all “marginalized genders.”

 

They skate on inline skates

Quad skates, featuring four wheels and two axles, are the standard in flat-track roller derby. Not rollerblades.

 

The athletes get paid

Ha. They don’t. Every skater competing at the Lansing Center this weekend is an amateur volunteer who also helps run their league. “In many ways it’s like competing as a professional athlete,” said Melissa McDonald of Detroit Roller Derby, “except you also run the league, don’t get paid, and actually have to pay money to play.”

 

It’s a niche sport that nobody takes seriously

The WFTDA oversees hundreds of leagues worldwide. This weekend’s event draws competitors from across the region. The athletes review game film, work with coaches, and train off-skates for strength and endurance. “This is a real sport,” McDonald said. “Especially at the level you’ll see at playoffs.” 

As the author of this story, I can safely say I’ve lost a job or two because I was too committed to roller derby. If that’s not serious, I don’t know what is.

 

Photo gallery: April 25 bout with Lansing Roller Derby v Ann Arbor Roller Derby

Meet Lansing’s own: Lansing Roller Derby

Some of the best teams are in Lansing this week